2004 Acura MDX tailgate

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The f ollowing pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver, adult passengers,
and teenagers who are large enough
and mature enough to ride in the
f ront seat. See pages f or
important guidelines on how to
properly protect inf ants, small
children, and larger children who
ride in your vehicle.
See page f or how to lock the
doors, and page f or how the
monitor light works. Locking the doors reduces the
chance of someone being thrown out
of the vehicle during a crash, and it
helps prevent passengers f rom
accidentally opening a door and
f alling out.
Locking the doors also helps prevent
an outsider f rom unexpectedly
opening a door when you come to a
stop. Your vehicle has a door and tailgate
monitor indicator on the instrument
panel to indicate when a specif ic
door or the tailgate is not tightly
closed. Af ter everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors and
tailgate are closed and locked.Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the
rear as possible while allowing you to
maintain f ull control of the vehicle.
Have a front passenger adjust their
seat as far to the rear as possible.
33 37
8060
Protecting A dults and Teens
Introduction Close and L ock the DoorsA djust the Front Seats
1. 2.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety11

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This
will prevent children f rom playing
with the windows, which could
expose them to hazards or distract
thedriver(seepage ).
Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states and Canadian provinces,
and can be very hazardous.
For example, infants and small
childrenleftinavehicleonahot
day can die f rom heatstroke. A
child lef t alone with the key in the
ignition can accidentally set the
vehicle in motion, possibly injuring
themselves or others. Children
who play in vehicles can
accidentally get trapped inside.
Teach your children not to play in
or around vehicles. Even very young
children learn how to unlock
vehicle doors, turn on the ignition,
and open the tailgate, which can
lead to accidental injury or death.
90
Protecting Children General Guidelines
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Use t he main power window
swit ch t o prevent children f romopening t he rear windows.
Do not leave children alone in avehicle. L ock all doors and t ailgat e when
your vehicle is not in use. K eep vehicle keys and remot e
transmitters out of the reach ofchildren.
37

There are two anchorage points on
the tailgate sill.Select the anchor point you want
to use. Raise the cargo area f loor,
and remove the cover with a small
f lat-tipped screwdriver or
f ingernail f ile.
Followsteps1and2of thesecond
row seat installation. When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in a back seat on a
booster and wear a lap/shoulder belt.
The f ollowing pages provide
guidelines to help you decide when a
given child may ride in f ront, and
how to properly protect the child.
2. 1.
Installing a Child Seat, Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
T hird Row Inst allat ionProtecting L arger Children
47
Allowing a larger child age 12 or
under to sit in front can result in
injury or death if the passenger’s
front airbag inflates.
If a larger child must ride in front,
move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, use a booster
seat if needed, and have the
child sit up properly and wear
the seat belt properly.

Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon
monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the under-
side. High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage. With the tailgate open, air flow can
pull exhaust gas into your vehicle’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
tailgate open, open all the windows
and set the heating and cooling
system/climate control system as
shown below.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the heating
and cooling system/climate control
system as f ollows:
Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Turn the f an on high speed.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety51
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.

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The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
CONT INUED
Instrument Panel
Inst rument s and Cont rols57
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST
SYSTEM (VSA) INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR
LAMP
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATORSUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
DOOR AND TAILGATE
OPEN MONITOR
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHTS ON
INDICATOR
WASHER LEVEL
INDICATOR
SEAT BELT
REMINDER
INDICATOR PARKING
BRAKE AND
BRAKE
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
TPMS INDICATOR
LOW TIRE PRESSURE
INDICATOR
BRAKE LAMP
INDICATOR
VSA ACTIVATION
INDICATOR SIDE AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED
INDICATOR
VTM- 4INDICATOR
A/T TEMPERATURE
INDICATOR (P.243)
(P.58)
(P.58)
(P.65)
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
(P.62)
(P.62) (P.60)/
(P.60,64)
(P. 61)
(P.63)
(P.61)
(P.61)
(P.
58)
(P. 59)
(P.59) (P.61)
(P.62)
(P.58) (P.58)(P.64)
(P.64)
(P. 59)
(P.
60)
(P. 63)

The lef t or right turn signal indicator
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If the indicator does not
blink or blinks rapidly, it usually
means one of the turn signal bulbs is
burned out. Replace the bulb as soon
as possible, since other drivers
cannot see that you are signaling
(see page ).If a brake light does not work, the
indicator comes on
when you push the brake pedal with
the ignition switch to ON (II).
A burned out brake light is a hazard
when drivers behind you cannot tell
you are braking. Replace the bulb as
soon as possible (see page ). The appropriate indicator comes on
in this display if the tailgate or any
door is not closed tightly.
All of the indicators in the monitor
display come on f or a f ew seconds
when you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II).
When you push the hazard warning
button, both turn signal lights blink.
All turn signals on the outside of the
vehicle should f lash. 216
215
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators Brake L amp Indicator Door and Tailgate Open Monitor
Instrument Panel Indicators
60
BRAKE LAMP

The childproof door locks are
designed to prevent children seated
in the rear f rom accidentally opening
the rear doors. Each rear door has a
lock lever near the edge. With the
lever in the LOCK position, the door
cannot be opened f rom the inside
regardless of the position of the lock
tab. To open the door, pull the lock
tab up and use the outside door
handle.
To lock all doors and the tailgate,
press the master door lock switch on
either f ront door, press the lock tab
down on the driver’s door, or use the
keyontheoutsidelockonthedriver’s
door.
Pressing up on either master door
lock switch will unlock all of the
doors and the tailgate. With the driver’s door open and the
key in the ignition, both master door
lock switches are disabled. They are
not disabled if the driver’s door is
closed. Pushing the switch down on
the open passenger’s door will lock
all doors and the tailgate.
To open the tailgate, pull the handle,
then lif t up. To close the tailgate, use
the inner handle to pull it down, then
press down on the back edge.
Keep the tailgate closed at all times
while driving to avoid damaging the
tailgate and to prevent exhaust gas
f rom getting into the interior. See
on page
.
The lock tab on any door locks and
unlocks that door. To unlock the driver’s door f rom the outside, turn
the key and release it. If you turn
and hold it, all doors and the tailgate
unlock.
51
Door L ocks
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Childproof Door L ocks
Tailgate
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
L ockout Prevent ion
80
LOCK LEVER
MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH
LOCK TAB

µµ
µ Press this button once
to unlock the driver’s door and the
tailgate. Push it twice to unlock the
other doors. Some exterior and
interior lights will f lash twice when
you push the button. If you do not
open any door or the tailgate within
30 seconds, they will automatically
relock.
When you press the UNLOCK
button, the f ront and rear individual
map lights and the cargo area light,
depending on their switch positions,
will come on (see page ). If you
do not open any door or the tailgate,
the lights stay on for about 30
seconds, then go out. If you relock
thedoorsandthetailgatewiththe
remote transmitter before 30
seconds have elapsed, the lights will
go of f immediately. Pressthisbuttonfor
about 1 second to attract attention;
thehornwillsoundandtheexterior
lights will f lash f or about 30 seconds.
To cancel panic mode, press any
other button on the remote
transmitter or turn the ignition
switch to ON (II).
Avoid dropping or throwing the
transmitter.
Protect the transmitter from
extreme temperature.
Do not immerse the transmitter in
any liquid.
Press this button once to
lock all doors and the tailgate. Some
exterior and interior lights will f lash.
When you push LOCK twice within 5
seconds, you will hear a beep to
verify that the doors and tailgate are
locked and the security system has
set. This button does not work if any
door or tailgate is not f ully closed. If you lose a transmitter, the
replacement needs to be
reprogrammed by an Acura dealer.
96
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Remote Transmitter
UNL OCK
PA NIC
LOCK
Remote Transmitter Care
81
LED
UNLOCK
BUTTON PANIC
BUTTON LOCK
BUTTON